Published on
August 9, 2025 |
UK, Italy, France, Poland, Denmark, Malta, Spain, Turkey, and Hungary, along with Greece’s key airports—Athens, Syros, and Volos—have all recorded impressive growth in passenger traffic during the first half of 2025, driving a robust recovery in Europe’s aviation sector with Greece’s nationwide airport network achieving a notable 5.3 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
Athens, Syros, and Volos Airports Drive Europe’s Air Travel Growth in First Half of 2025
In the first six months of 2025, several Greek airports, including Athens, Syros, and Volos, distinguished themselves as top performers in European passenger traffic growth. This insight comes from the latest report published by Airports Council International Europe (ACI Europe), which tracks airport traffic trends across the continent.
Athens International Airport delivered a robust performance, achieving a 7.6 percent increase in passenger numbers compared to the same period in 2024. This growth rate matched that of Copenhagen Airport, reflecting the strong demand for travel to and from these important European hubs. However, Milan Malpensa led the major airports in Europe with an impressive 11.4 percent surge in passengers, underscoring its rising importance as a continental gateway. Manchester Airport also posted solid numbers with a 5.3 percent growth, while Paris Orly Airport recorded a 5 percent increase, illustrating a steady recovery and growth in European air travel.
Beyond the major airports, regional airports in Greece displayed exceptional momentum in June 2025. Syros Island Airport (JSY) saw an extraordinary surge in passenger numbers, soaring by 112.8 percent and more than doubling its traffic compared to the previous year. Likewise, Volos Airport (VOL) witnessed a significant growth of 51.1 percent, reflecting a growing enthusiasm for Greece’s lesser-known travel spots.Together, these regional gains reflect a broadening appeal of Greek tourism, spreading beyond traditional hotspots to smaller islands and emerging locales.
Across the country, Greece’s airport system experienced a 5.3 percent increase in passenger numbers during the first half of 2025 compared to the corresponding period in 2024. This growth is a clear signal of the country’s expanding attractiveness as a travel destination, fueled by a combination of factors such as new flight routes, enhanced connectivity, and growing international tourism demand.
Broader Trends in European Airport Traffic
On a continent-wide scale, passenger traffic across European airports rose by 4.5 percent during the first half of 2025, compared with the first six months of 2024. This steady expansion was consistent across both quarters, reinforcing positive momentum in air travel despite ongoing global economic challenges and geopolitical uncertainties.
The primary driver of this growth was international travel, which rose by 5.7 percent year-on-year. This contrasts with domestic travel, which remained largely flat, showing only a slight 0.2 percent increase. The disparity indicates that cross-border tourism and business travel are leading Europe’s aviation recovery and growth.
When benchmarked against pre-pandemic levels from the first half of 2019, total passenger volumes across Europe now stand 5.1 percent higher, signaling not only recovery but also an expansion beyond previous records.
Breaking down growth by airport size reveals that large and medium-sized airports experienced the strongest increases, with passenger numbers climbing 5.4 percent on average. Within this category, notable performers included Tel Aviv Airport, which saw a remarkable 27 percent jump in passenger traffic. Krakow followed with an 18.7 percent increase, Budapest grew by 15 percent, and Warsaw rose by 13.2 percent. These figures highlight the growing importance of Central and Eastern European hubs in the wider European air travel ecosystem.
By comparison, major international hubs reported more modest gains of around 3.3 percent. Among these, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport grew 11.5 percent, Rome Fiumicino 6.5 percent, Paris Charles de Gaulle 4.3 percent, Amsterdam Schiphol and Madrid 3 percent each, and London Heathrow showed a marginal 0.2 percent increase. The slower growth in these hubs may reflect capacity constraints, increased competition from secondary airports, and shifting travel patterns.
Smaller airports, defined as those handling fewer than one million passengers annually, recorded a 5.1 percent rise in traffic. However, these airports are still recovering, with traffic volumes remaining 32.9 percent below their pre-pandemic levels. This highlights the uneven nature of aviation recovery across airport categories.
Regional Variations in Airport Growth Across Europe
Analysis by region reveals distinct growth patterns, with airports in Southeast Europe outperforming their Northwest counterparts. Slovakia topped the list with a remarkable 19.2 percent increase in passenger numbers. Poland, Hungary, Malta, and Cyprus followed closely, with growth rates of 14.9 percent, 14.2 percent, 11.7 percent, and 10.8 percent respectively. These figures suggest a strong resurgence in travel demand across Southeast European countries, driven in part by rising tourism, increasing economic activity, and expanded flight connections.
In contrast, Nordic and some Western European countries such as Sweden, Estonia, Iceland, and Luxembourg showed minimal growth or slight declines in passenger traffic. These subdued figures may be linked to seasonal factors, economic headwinds, or market saturation.
Among the largest markets within the European Union and associated countries (EU+), Italy led passenger growth with a 5.7 percent increase, supported by strong domestic and international demand. Spain followed with a 4.5 percent rise. France, the United Kingdom, and Germany reported more modest increases ranging from 2.3 to 3.6 percent, indicating a slower but steady recovery in some of Europe’s biggest aviation markets.
Outside the EU, several countries demonstrated impressive growth. Moldova’s airports saw a dramatic 49.2 percent rise in passenger traffic, while Bosnia and Herzegovina grew by 31.1 percent. Israel maintained strong momentum with a 27 percent increase. Kosovo and Georgia reported solid expansions of 16.6 and 13.7 percent respectively. Conversely, Türkiye and Azerbaijan posted smaller gains, each slightly above 1 percent, reflecting more stable or mature markets.
Outlook
The first half of 2025 has demonstrated robust growth for airports in Greece and across Europe, driven predominantly by international travel and expanding regional connectivity. While large hubs continue to recover at a steady pace, many regional and emerging airports are experiencing rapid growth, highlighting the diversification of travel demand within Europe.
UK, Italy, France, Poland, Denmark, Malta, Spain, Turkey, Hungary, and Greece have all seen strong passenger growth in H1 2025, with Athens, Syros, and Volos airports leading Greece’s impressive 5.3 percent national increase.
These trends suggest a positive outlook for the aviation sector as new routes and markets open up, tourism rebounds, and passenger confidence strengthens. Monitoring these developments will be key for stakeholders aiming to capitalize on shifting passenger flows and evolving travel preferences across the continent.
